Madness of Tristram

Setting for a jewel: from 'the Madness of Tristram', anon, 12th century

...Li rois l'entent et si s'en rit,
Et dit au fol: "Si Dieu t'ait,
Se je te doinse la reine
Avoir, et mette en ta saisine,
Or me dit que tu en feroies,
Ou en quel part tu la menroies?"

...The king listens and starts to laugh,
And he says to the fool: "By God,
If I gave to you now my queen,
And put her into your care,
Tell me, what would you do with her,
To what lodgings would you lead her?"

"Rois", fait li fols, "la sus en l'air
Ai une sale ou je repair.
De verre est faite, bele et grant;
Li soleil va parmi raiant,
En air est et par nues pent,
Ne berce ne crolle pour vent.
Deles la salle a une chambre
Faite de cristal et de lambre.
Li soleil, quant par main levra,
Leans moult grant clarte rendra."

"King", says the fool, "High in the air
I have a hall that is my own.
Of glass is it made, fair and wide;
And through it all there shines the sun.
In the air it hangs from the clouds,
Not rocked nor shaken by the wind.
By the hall a chamber I have
Of crystal made and gleaming woods.
And as the morning dawns, why then
A shining brightness fills it all."